As 2024 nears its close, the market has delivered a solid 20% return, but it’s been the mid and small-cap stocks that have really shone this year. Midcaps have surged 28% while small caps have seen even stronger growth, climbing 31%, outpacing the more conservative large-cap returns of 17%. Between January and September, the market saw strong rallies driven by expectations surrounding corporate earnings, national election results, and the budget, all of which helped lift valuations. However, by the end of September 2024, the tide started to turn. Corporate earnings growth, which had been slowing since June, began to show signs of weakness, raising red flags about potential structural issues within India’s economy. The FIIs’ selling spree, which reached a peak between October and November, was exacerbated by the Yen Carry Trade issue. With interest rates rising in Japan, the lucrative short-term bets in Indian equities became less attractive. One key area to keep an eye on is India’s valuations, which remain above the long-term average. Investors will need to be selective and strategic about which themes and stocks to hold onto as the market enters 2025.